Bristol County House of Correction to receive $100K for opioid treatment

Aug 08, 2017

The Bristol County House of Correction will receive $100,000 in state funding to provide pre- and post-release treatment for inmates with an opioid use disorder.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) will equally fund five houses of correction statewide to help inmates within two months of release receive treatment and recovery support for opioid addiction.

“The deadly heroin and opioid epidemic can only be broken with a comprehensive effort from all levels of government focused on increasing access to treatment, prevention, and recovery services,” said Governor Charlie Baker via a statement.

The total $500,000 award will support the execution of the new program — known as the Medication Assisted Treatment Re-Entry Initiative for Houses of Correction (MATRI-HOC) — in the Bristol County, Franklin County, Hampden County, Middlesex County, and Worcester County houses of correction, officials said.

According to a state report, incarcerated individuals with a history of opioid use disorder are 56 times more likely to die of opioid overdose following their release, as compared to the general public.

Major services supported by the DPH Bureau of Substance Abuse Services funding will include access to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) including buprenorphine and Extended Release Injectable Naltrexone; case management services to facilitate a successful transition from a correctional services environment back into the community; and links to community-based treatment and recovery support services.